Book Mail Round-Up 💌
- The_Secret_Bookreview
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
This week's round-up of beautiful book mail!
I'm excited to begin sharing a roundup of the book mail I've received recently. I can't wait to delve into these books and share my thoughts through reviews!
The books in this week's round-up are:
Harpy: A Manifesto for Childfree Women by Caroline Magennis:
Caroline Magennis presents a refreshing and courageous voice in Harpy: A Manifesto for Childfree Women, tackling the societal pressures and narrow expectations placed on women with honesty, humour and quiet strength.
Rather than explaining or justifying the choice to be childfree, Magennis reclaims it as something to celebrate, offering a message of hope and autonomy.
This book is a life-affirming read for anyone who has felt the weight of intrusive questions or the expectation that a woman’s worth is tied to motherhood. It shines a light on how limiting these assumptions can be and reminds us that true empowerment lies in the freedom to choose one’s own path.
Written with warmth and sharp intelligence, Harpy is not just a book for those who are childfree, but a manifesto for any woman seeking to live life on her own terms. A timely, powerful and necessary addition to the conversation about women’s autonomy and identity.
Thank you to Elle at Icon Books for sending me an early review copy of the book! The book is out now and available to purchase.
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The Show Woman by Emma Cowing:
The Show Woman by Emma Cowing is a beautifully written tale of resilience, fierce female friendship and the pursuit of independence.
Set against the backdrop of early 1900s Scotland, it follows Lena, raised in the colourful world of the circus, who is forced to rebuild her life after the loss of her parents.
Just as all hope seems lost, Violet arrives – fearless, determined and ready to challenge convention. Together, they dream bigger, launching an all-female travelling show that defies every expectation.
This is a moving and empowering story that celebrates strength, sisterhood and the courage to follow your own path.
Thank you so much to Kellie at Hodder and Stoughton for sending finished books for the book club! The book is out now and available to purchase.
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Stay In The Light by A.M. Shine:
A.M. Shine returns with Stay in the Light, a chilling continuation of Mina's story following the terrifying events of The Watchers.
Now living in a secluded cottage on the Irish coast, Mina's fight for survival is far from over. As strangers appear and people start to vanish, the sense of dread slowly tightens its grip, pulling the reader into a world where the Watchers’ power continues to grow.
This book is a masterclass in slow building tension.
The early chapters simmer with unease as Mina’s paranoia deepens, making the horror feel all the more intimate and unsettling. Alongside Mina’s story, the excavation at The Burren introduces Sean Kilmarnock and brings a compelling folk horror element to the narrative, weaving layers of history and ancient dread into the tale.
A.M. Shine’s writing is vivid and unrelenting, capturing both the vastness of the landscape and the claustrophobia of fear. Stay in the Light travels at a slightly different pace to its predecessor but remains just as gripping, with an atmosphere that lingers long after the last page.
If you have not yet read The Watchers, it is essential to start there to fully appreciate the brilliance of this unsettling and beautifully crafted story. An absolute must for fans of literary and folk horror.
Thank you to Zoe and the team at Head of Zeus for sending me a finished copy of the book! The book is out now and available to purchase.
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